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I'm still trying to catch my breath when invisible arms lift me up, and a hard, unseen chest cradles my head. He obviously still means to hide his face from me, but I no longer find the thought hurtful or distressing. It's just what it is, and once I've made up my mind about wanting to make things work, I'm simply the type to focus on the bigger picture and let the minor details go.
He gave me his word that I'll eventually see him, and that's good enough for me.
But in the meantime...
A faint smile curves over my lips as I tap on his shoulder.
What is it, moraki mou?
"You can just ask me to close my eyes the next time, you know. I promise not to peek."
While I would normally trust you to keep your word, on that aspect,
allow me to borrow a very human response by saying...
Yeah right.
I burst into laughter, not at all offended since the god's assessment is absolutely...spot on. If there comes a time he'd need me to sacrifice my life for him, I'd do it in a heartbeat. But to not peek at his face if I'm suddenly given a chance to?
It's just like he said. Yeah right. The old me would probably be too nice to break her word, but since I'm all about Halyna taking care of Halyna now...
"You're lucky I'm no longer the type to sweat over the little things."
Indeed, I am.
"Like, really lucky," I make sure to stress. "Most other girls wouldn't be as understanding as I am about your conditions. They probably wouldn't even bother to wait for a chance to peek at your face. They'd scheme and—-"
There is no need to remind me of your worth, moraki mou.
I can feel him smiling as he speaks, which I find secretly cute, but then his lips touch my hair, and the cuteness factor is just way off the charts now. Gods are not supposed to be cute, dammit!
You are and will always be irreplaceable.
The words catch me off guard, and my heart flutters away even as I quickly bury my blushing face in his chest.
Did I embarrass you?
There's an unmistakable purr in his soundless voice, and my cheeks turn hotter as my mortification grows. "You must be an outcast among the other gods," I grumble under my breath. "Divine isn't supposed to be synonymous to sweet and nice!"
It was in my time.
Even though the god's voice feels entirely casual, I have a feeling there's more than a kernel of truth in his words, and I'm unable to contain my curiosity. "How old are you anyway?"
Why do you ask?
I still can't see him obviously, but the vibes I'm getting from his words has me struggling to keep a straight face. Who knew a god could actually feel so defensive about his age? "There's no need to keep it a secret. Age is just a number—-"
Then I can safely assume you will survive not knowing it.
This time, I'm no longer able to hold myself back from grinning. "Come on," I cajole. "Just tell me—-"
I plead the Fifth.
My grin widens. "You can't. You're not American."
I will be, when you marry me.
I sputter and choke, and the way I feel him smirking makes me beat his chest in a fit of irritation. I really hate it when—-
We're here.
It's the stone cabin from my dream of course, and I can't help feeling like a bride on her wedding night as he carries me over the threshold. Inside, it's even more enthralling than I remember, and..mm...the candles blazing from the chandelier seem scented this time, and I think that's roses of the Erotes perfuming the air.
The god takes me straight to the bedroom's en-suite, a luxurious abode with porcelain floors and a glass ceiling that allows moonlight to play around the dozens of candles floating in the air. Although the existence of this kind of magic is already a proven fact in the Post-3rd world, being able to glimpse it in action is still quite rare, and when I hear the lyre from the living room play on its own—-
Oh my gosh!
The candles actually start waltzing in synchrony, and I'm unable to keep myself from gasping and laughing.
You like it?
I throw my arms around his neck and give him a quick, hard hug. "I LOVE IT!"
I'm glad.
The god brushes a feather-soft kiss over my lips before carefully lowering me down to my feet.
You still have about an hour to shower and have breakfast.
Although his thoughtfulness makes it seem like I'm the master between us two, no way am I going to point that out. I'm no martyr, so if this god wants to pamper me, he's free to do so...oh!
All thoughts fly away when I feel the god start undressing me, and all I can do is squeeze my eyes shut as he efficiently gets rid of my coat and my nightgown.
I want to watch you bathe, moraki mou.
His lips brush my ear as he lays his thought out in my mind, and my senses are still tingling even by the time he releases me from his hold.
I slowly open my eyes, and my heart hammers against my chest when it's already his bestial form that greets me. I can't help feeling sinful and decadent, with my body completely exposed to a creature so monstrous and savage in appearance.
The beast has settled in a couchant position next to the doorway, and its eyes of gold and blue blatantly devour the sight of me as I step into a tub that's already filled with foamy, bubbly-hot water.
It watches me in silence as I shampoo my hair, and I can feel its gaze narrow as I start soaping my body. A memory stirs in my mind, and I find myself scrubbing just a little harder. Now is yet another good time for me to talk about the possibility of someone divine framing me in the past, but...what if this only makes my god feel guilty? What if he'll end up leaving again?
The thought alone makes me shiver, and I quickly urge myself to think of something else. Something nicer and less dangerous like...the god telling me it's possible for him to make love to me in its bestial form?
Eeeep!
I quickly duck my head under the water to cool my suddenly-red cheeks. Stop being such a perv, Halyna! Just stop it—-
Stop...what?
Realizing in horror that it's actually possible to accidentally blurt something in one's mind, I straighten back up, and water splashes over the tub as my head emerges from the water. "It's...uh...nothing," I prevaricate quickly. I know the god's more than aware I'm sexual putty in his hands, but for him to also know I have it so bad that I'm this close to saying yes to furry hanky-panky?
The thought has me swiftly reaching for a towel, but the god beats me to it, his bestial form disappearing in the midst of his transformation.
Let me.
I struggle to stay still as he briskly works the towel down my body.
It's a pity you have class today.
The seductive purr I sense from his words makes me shudder, and my lips part in a silent moan. I think...I think I'm ready to play truant if it means being able to spend the rest of the day in his arms. But just as I'm about to say this, the god's next words are already filling my mind—-
All done.
I bite back a groan even as I let the god lead me out of the en-suite, but my disappointment quickly turns into curiosity when I realize I finally have some time to look around his bedroom—-whoa!
"That bed is massive!"
A necessity, I'm afraid, as I sometimes prefer my other form when sleeping...and fucking, of course.
****
THE GOD IS STILL LAUGHING his invisible head off an hour later, and I think it's the only reason he's insisted on walking me to class. Being the divinely beastly creature that he is, he doesn't seem to have any plans of letting me forget how his words freaked me out to the point of making me run...straight into the still-closed door of his bedroom.
You should think about getting a job, I grumble in my mind. You clearly need something better to occupy your time.
I do have a job.
Seriously?
Of course.
Well, what it is?
Making sure no man steals you from me.
Swoon.
I mean, ugh.
Did that make your heart skip a beat, little bird?
Nope!
We both know it's a lie, but sometimes, you just have to do what you can to save face.
Up ahead, we both see Anise Building coming up, and as my steps slow down, the god's words unroll in my mind.
Are you sure you don't want to skip classes today?
I take out my phone so I can pretend I'm reading a text while I speak to my god. I think it's better if I don't. If I do, it might turn into a bad habit.
Resting for another day after someone stabbed you is not a bad habit.
Thank you for worrying about me, but I promise, I'm going to be fine.
And...uh...thanks for walking me to class.
We can, um, part here—-
Is that so?
Uh...yeah?
I was thinking I could keep you company in class.
I nearly drop my phone at the god's words. That's a very bad idea.
Is it?
Professor Luscious—-
SHIT.
I mean, Professor Lucious. I practically trip all over my tongue in my hurry to correct myself. Sorry about that. I totally do not think he's luscious or anything, but it's because everyone calls him that so the name just kinda stuck. That's all.
The god doesn't answer this time, and I start feeling uneasy.
Uh...hello? You're still there, right?
Instead of answering, the god suddenly covers my breasts with his hands, and I almost trip over my own feet as I struggle to walk normally while a divinely beastly being clutches me from behind.
Remember who you belong to.
He squeezes my breasts hard, and I scramble to cross my arms over my chest even though I know there's actually nothing for anyone to see, since the god's still invisible.
There's no need to be jealous of him!
Isn't there?
You know how I feel about the divine, but I still chose you, didn't I?
A moment passes, but when I feel him start to pull his hands away, I find myself reacting instinctively and perversely. Instead of letting his hands go, I actually end up keeping his hands in place, and I hear the god suck in his breath in response.
You asked me to trust you, and I did.
No questions asked.
And now you intend to ask me the same thing.
Yes.
My hands tighten over his, and I feel his hands tighten over my breasts in response.
Trust me...kyrios.
Another moment passes, and then the god's lips touch the top of my head.
I do.
The memory of it still makes me secretly smile as I run up the stairs.
Alone.
Because my god trusts me.
But as soon as I step inside the room, and I see the professor already standing behind his desk—-
No, no, no.
I force myself to look away and try to convince myself he's neither gorgeous nor sexy. But the moment I take my seat and turn his way, the hunger blazing blatantly in his gaze catches me unawares—-
O Bella of Forks, Mistress of Love Triangles, please oh please save me from this shit!